Line sighting and leveling device



Dec. 9, 1958 G. M. WHELAN LINE SIGHTING AND LEVELING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1957 INVENTOR. GEORGE M. WHELAN United States Patent O LINE SIGHTING AND 'LEVELING 'DEVKZE George M. Whelan, Bothell, Wash.

Application November 25, 1957,Seria'l No. 695,445

Claims. (Cl. 33-73) This invention relates to improvements in leveling and line sightingdevices. More particularly, it has reference to improvements on the device disclosed in my prior US. patent issued on September 11, 195 6', under No. 2,762,128, which discloses a combination of parts including a carpenters spirit level, a carpenters square and a novel holding means therefor to provide a device that is especially useful to carpenters, excavators, contractors and surveyors for running levels, lines, grades or points from which to work, as for example, for the locating of corners, lines, grades and levels preparatory to the building of foundations, walls, building or other structures, or for use as a surveying instrument.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a device that is adapted to be used for the same purposes and in the same manner as the device of my above numbered US. patent, but which is simplified in its construction; which is easier to put into use; which includes a clamp and holder that is less expensive to manufacture and which combination of parts possesses all the desirable features of the device of the prior patent.

Still further objects of the present invention reside in the specific details of construction of parts and-in their combination, and in the mode of use of the parts in com bination, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentionedand other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details for construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a leveling and sighting dsvice embodied by the present invention, and showing the deviceas supported for use.

Fig. 2 is a central, longitudinal section of the tube, and of its supporting means; showing the supported for use.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional detail, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of parts as shown in Fig. 2, but at a reduced scale.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the sighting tube with a level secured thereon.

Fig. 6 is an outer end view of the sighting tube.

Referring more in detail to the drawings;

In its present preferred form of construction, the device of this invention comprises a mounting or supporting clamp of such size and character that it is readily applicable to a stake, or other suitable support, such as that shown at 8 in Fig. 1, after the stake has been driven vertically into the ground, or the support has been suitably fixed in position for use of the present device therewith.

The clamp, as best shown in Fig. 1, comprises a U-shaped yoke with parallel, laterally spaced leg portions 10 and 10b adapted to receive the driven stake or support between them at least one of which is equipped with the usual form of clamp screw 11 for securing the yoke firmly and rigidly to the support. The base portion 102; of the yoke has a fiat, upwardly directed plate 12 pivotsighting tube as 2,863,219 latented Dec. 9, 1958 2 allyfixed thereto by abo1t13. This bolt can be loosened for adjusting'the plate to vertical position and then tightened tosecure the adjustment; Fixed to the upper end of plate 12 and extending to the side thereof that is opposite the clamp 10 is a metal'block 15, here shown to be circular and formed vertically therethrough at its center as shown in Fig. 2, with a bore 16. Extending through this bore is a closely fitted tube 18, which is formed at its upper end with a flat, disk likehead 19. A nut 20 is threaded onto thelower end portion of tube 18 and this can be tightened againstthe underside of the metal block 15 for the clamping purpose presently explained.

Extendingthrough and rotatably fitted .in the tube 18 is a post, or stem 21 which is equipped at its upper end with a block 22 in which a sighting tube 23 is fixedly mounted. At the lower end the stem is equipped for affixing the suspending cord 24 of a plumb bob 25 therein; the cord passing from the lower end of the stem through ahole that is in the axial line of the stem.

The block 22 supports the sighting tube 23 therein at a point midway of its ends and rigidly holds it with its axial line perpendicular'to the axial line of the stem or post 21. The block 22 has a flat under surface in a plane perpendicular to the axial line of the stem 21. Likewise, the disk-like head or top member 19 has fiat top and under surfaces that are in planes perpendicular to the axial line of tube 18 and stem 21. Therefore, if the supporting clamp holds the tube 18 in a vertical position, the sighting tube 23 will be held level in any position of its rotary movement as supported in the block 22 by post or stem-21 for rotation.

In setting up the presentdevice for laying out lines at right angles to each other from any point, or corner marker, the stake, 8 is driven in such relationship to the corner marken-such as that indicated at 30 in Fig. 1, that the clamp 10, when properly applied to the stake, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 or 4, its head portion 15 will be directly above the marker. The clamp 10 is then applied to the stake with the tube 18 applied to the bore 16 of the head 15 as in Fig. 2. The post or stem 21 to which the sighting'tube mounting block 22 is fixed is then applied to=the tube '18.] A carpenters square, such as that-designated at,-3"5 in .Fig. 1, is then applied to the support between the top surface of block 15 and disk-like part 19;- the inside angle forming edges of the square being engaged-against the tube "18 as shown in Fig. 3. The blades of the square then are clamped tightly between the top surface of the block 15 and the under surface of disk 19, by drawing nut 20 tight. Thus the square will be held in a plane perpendicular to the post or stem 21 which is rotatably mounted in tube 18 which has been fixed in vertical position. The sighting tube 23 is equipped at its ends with downwardly directed stop plates 38. One of these stops is adapted, when the sighting tube is swung about its pivotal mounting, to be engaged with the inside edges of the blades of the square thus to limit the are through which it turns to one of exactly These lines of sight will intersect in the vertical axial line of post 21 as will be understood by reference to Fig. 2. Thus, by sighting through the tube, lines at right angles to each other can be laid out which will diverge at a right angle from point 30. i

In order that the sighting tube may be caused to swing in a truly horizontal plane, I have provided for mounting a carpenters level on top of the tube as shown in Fig. 1; such a level being designated by reference numeral 50. The mounting of this level on the tube is facilitated through the use of tubular fittings 51--51 applied to the opposite ends of the tube; these fittings having the previously mentioned stop plates 38 fixed vertically thereto across their outer ends. These plates have horizontal top edges, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. When the level 51) is disposed on the tube, it rests at its ends upon these horizontal edges, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will also be here mentioned that the lower edge portions of the stop plates38 extend below the fittings 51 to an extent necessary for engaging with the blade edges of the square; these extended portions, as seen in Fig. 5, having a width that is exactly equal to the diameter of the tube 18 against which the square is disposed when clamped in place, as in Fig, 3.

Elastic bands, as at 5252 in Fig. 1', may be applied about the ends of the level and tube to hold the level in position during use. By use of'this level, and by adjustment of the clamp on its support as afforded by the clamp screws 11 and bolt 13, the post 21 can be adjusted to and secured in a vertical position. Thus, a line sighted through the tube will be along a truly horizontal line. To aid in the sighting of a line, the fitting at one end of the tube is equipped with the sight hole 55 of small diameter, as shown in Fig. 5, and the fitting at its opposite end has a relatively large opening equipped with the usual cross hairs, as shown at 56 in Fig. 6.

Devices of this character are easy to use for line sighting, for leveling and for many uses for which a surveyors transit is ordinarily used. They provide a convenient, inexpensive and satisfactory means for foundation, building and structural lay out work.

What I claim as new is:

l. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a mounting clamp, 21 plate adjustably fixed to said clamp, a block fixed to said plate; said block having a flat top surface and formed centrally of said surface and perpendicular thereto with a bore leading 2,sss,219 3 i f the sighting tube as mounted by said stem can swing to the angle established by the blades of the square.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein means is provided on said sighting tube for mounting a carpenters level thereon parallel with the axial line of the tube for'leveling the sighting tube at opposite limits of its arcuate movement, as provided for by adjustment of the mounting clamp and said plate.

3. A device of the character described comprising in combination a clamp adapted for adjustable securement to a support, a vertical plate adjustably fixed to said clamp and extended above it, a block fixed to a side of said plate at its upper end; said block having flat top and bottom surfaces, and formed centrally thereof and perpendicular to said surfaces, with a bore opening through the block, a tubular bolt extended through said bore and rotatably fitted therein; said bolt having an annular clamp- 1 ing flange at its upper end in opposed relationship to the top surface of said block, a carpenters square disposed with its corner forming portion between the Hat 'top surface of said block and the clamping flange of said tubular bolt, with the inside edges of its blades engaged against the bolt, a nut threaded onto the lower end porthrough the block, a tubular bolt extended through and rotatably fitted in said bore and formed at its upper end with a clamping flange adapted to coact with said flat top surface of the block, a carpenters square disposed with its corner forming portion clamped between the flat top surface of said block and the clamping flange of said tubular member with the inside edges of its blades engaged against said tubular member, a clamping nut threaded onto the lower end portion of said tubular bolt for tightening against the underside of said block to clamp and hold said square in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bolt, a stern rotatably-fitted in said tubular bolt and extended from its upper end, and a line sighting tube fixedly mounted on the upper end of said stem with its axis at a right angle to the axis of said stem, and means on said tube for engaging with the inner edges of the blades of the fixed square to limit the arc through which tion of said tubular bolt and tightened against the under surface of said block to clamp and hold said square in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said bolt, a stem rotatably fitted in the tubular bolt having a head portion at its upper end seated against the upper surface of the clamping flange, and a line sighting tube mounted in said head portion, perpendicular to the axis of said stem, plates mounted on the sighting tube at its ends, a carpenters level mounted along said tube and supported by said plates parallel thereto for leveling it, and a stop member extended downwardly from said tube and engageable with the inner edge of the blades of said square to limit the swinging of the sighting tube to an arc of degrees.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the axial line of said stem intersects the axial line of the sighting tube.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the axial line of said stem intersects the axial line of the sighting tube, and wherein said stop member is fixed to the end of said sighting tube and has a width equal to the diameter of the tubular bolt, and extends equally to opposite sides of the vertical axial plane of the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,762,128 Whelan Sept. 11, 1956 

